Atlanta United

Biggest move so far: Because they have the same last name, I'll put both Martinezes here: Giving Josef a new deal and (finally) announcing Pity raises the bar yet again for the rest of the league.

Biggest question / hole: How much change will Frank de Boer institute in Atlanta's MLS Cup-winning starting XI? Will he continue his preferred attacking 4-3-3 formation or will it be three at the back? Is George Bello the starting left back, or could it be Brek Shea? Will Ezequiel Barco win a place in the starting lineup? How will de Boer spread minutes around to all deserving once the club's CCL adventure ends and there are just MLS games to be had?

Biggest question / hole: With Johan Kappelhof back and Marcelo signed, the Fire have a defensive Spine. But, with Matt Polster gone, Brandon Vincent retired and former academy star Andrew Gutman signing with Celtic, the club are thin on fullbacks.

Rumors have it: Sam Stejskal chatted with Fire GM Nelson Rodriguez who said the club are working on defensive reinforcements, including two international defenders who would require transfer fees.

FC Cincinnati

Most notable move this week:FC Cincinnati signed Kekuta Manneh on a free transfer from Swiss side FC St. Gallen and sent Columbus a package of allocation money that could rise $400,000 should incentives be met for his MLS rights.

Biggest move so far: Starting from scratch, there have been a lot. It's tough to just name one. So, how about two? Landing Greg Garza and Kendall Waston lays the foundation for the club to be competitive from Day One.

Biggest question / hole: Who will be the club's creator-in-chief? They don't have an MLS-proven chance creator on the roster, which doesn't necessarily mean that player isn't already in the dressing room, but it's definitely a question mark. Second is finding out quickly if Fanendo Adi and Darren Mattocks can effectively play together.

Rumors have it: No rumors on the Cincy front as the club look to form cohesion from all the new players ahead of their inaugural MLS match.

Colorado Rapids

Most notable move this week: No movement from the Colorado Rapids as the club prepares for 2019.

Biggest move so far: For a side that scored the fewest goals in the league last season, including getting shut out in seven of their last 10 matches of 2018, Kei Kamara and Diego Rubio will be godsends. Kamara is 34 years old, but you can put him down for double-digit goals if he plays most games, while Rubio made the absolute most of his time on the field last year with eight goals and six assists in 781 minutes. No. 5 pick Andre Shinyashiki provides further striking options.

Biggest question / hole: Do they have enough creativity in their group to feed the likes of Rubio and Kamara? Is it Benny Feilhaber at No. 10 or Nicolas Mezquida? Do Rubio and Kamara start together or does Rubio play super sub? Will the defense hold up in 2019?

D.C. United

Biggest move so far: With a pedigree like that of 21-year-old winger Lucas Rodriguez, he's sure to be one of the club's bigger offseason catches. The Argentine was signed on loan with option to buy.

Biggest question / hole: The club could really use a defensive reinforcement or two. On the attacking side: Lucho Acosta will need to be signed to a new deal and what happens when Wayne Rooney needs a break? He can't be expected to play every single minute of the campaign — only four outfield players accomplished that in 2018 — but he's the only forward on the roster.

Rumors have it: The club are expected to sign Quincy Amarikwa as Rooney's backup.

FC Dallas

Biggest move so far: While appointing Luchi Gonzalez as head coach is hugely important for the club both in the short and long term, signing striker Zdenek Ondrasek will be most important for 2019 if he continues the goalscoring form he showed in Norway and Poland. FCD's Achilles' heel towards the end of last season was rooted in their inability to score goals from open play.

Biggest question / hole: The roster is solid. It doesn't have a hole, per se, but the biggest question is top-end talent. Who is the best player on the team and where would he stack up alongside every other club's best player? Also, there will be questions asked about goalscoring if Pablo Aranguiz and Michael Barrios don't create enough and/or Ondrasek and Dom Badji sputter in front of goal.

Rumors have it: The rumor mill has gone quiet with FCD working through preseason matches.

Houston Dynamo

Biggest move so far: The 2018 season was a tale of two Dynamo teams: One with (good) and without (not so good) Juan David Cabezas. This offseason, they've sought to rectify that by signing Matias Vera from San Lorenzo. The pair can potentially play together, but as importantly, they can also cover for each other's absence.

Biggest question / hole: Depth, especially in the attack, will come into question if Houston advance far in the Concacaf Champions League. Toronto FC's 2018 season is a testament to that.

Rumors have it: Despite looking likely to head to Europe, it now appears that Alberth Elis will be staying in H-town - for now.

Los Angeles Football Club

Biggest move so far: Their parade of new deals. Re-signing Walker Zimmerman, Eduard Atuesta and Mark-Anthony Kaye keeps continuity down the spine of the club's starting XI. The club would have had a huge hole in defense without Zimmerman and, outside of Atuesta and Kaye, there aren't many (any?) defensive-minded options in Bob Bradley's midfield.

LA Galaxy

Most notable move this week: Nothing official from the LA Galaxy this week.

Biggest move so far: Re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It's not a complex take and it wasn't a complex decision for new general manager Dennis te Kloese: Keep a player who had one of the most efficient goal contribution seasons in league history.

Biggest question / hole: Is Diego Polenta enough in defense? Also, re-signing Ibrahimovic as a Designated Player does come with a roster-related headache: One of the three incumbent Designated Players – Jonathan dos Santos, Gio dos Santos or Romain Alessandrini – might need to be moved. Also: will Guillermo Barros Schelotto keep using his preferred 4-3-3?

Minnesota United FC

Biggest move so far: Defensive investments. It's Year 3 of the Loons' three-year-plan and the club have traded huge money for Ike Opara, signed defensive midfielder Jan Gregus to a DP deal and inked Ozzie Alonso despite age concerns. Now you can add Mannone.

Biggest question / hole: The Loons' defensive unit has conceded 70+ goals in both of the club’s MLS seasons so far. How many goals conceded will Alonso and Gregus be able to cut for the club? Can Alonso stay healthy and at his best? Will Angelo Rodriguez and Darwin Quintero gel?

Biggest question / hole: Squad depth (or upgrades) at a couple of key positions: namely at center back (can Michael Mancienne, Jalil Anibaba and Antonio Delamea handle the load of an entire season?). The club have addressed their depth woes in attack through the SuperDraft and Homegrown signings.

New York City FC

Biggest move so far: If Mitrita plays up to his fee, he'll be a huge success in the Bronx. The 24-year-old had 12 goals and four assists in 16 league matches in Romania before joining NYCFC.

Biggest question / hole: What formation will Dome Torrent play? How will he spread minutes around the midfield with so many deserving players? Will Mitrita (or Jesus Medina? Or Maxi Moralez?) excel at the false nine position, with no natural striker on the roster?

New York Red Bulls

Biggest move so far: Re-signing Tim Parker. After breaking an MLS record for points, it’s never easy to hang on to the whole squad.

Biggest question / hole: How does the club replace Tyler Adams’ presence in the midfield? Can Cristian Casseres Jr. do it? Adams covered so much ground and put out so many fires — he was the linchpin of a pressing team.

Biggest question / hole: For a team that broke the MLS record for most goals conceded in a season, defending is still concern No. 1. In attack, can Sacha Kljestan and Dom Dwyer return to their top form? Will their new signings fit?

Philadelphia Union

Biggest move so far: If Fabian stays healthy, he can transform and improve an already-strong Union side...

Biggest question / hole: ... but his injury past is checkered. Also: Ernst Tanner doubled down on the young backline he inherited by ostensibly handing opportunities for minutes to 21-year-old Olivier Mbaizo and 19-year-old Matthew Real at fullback, flanking Auston Trusty (20) and Mark McKenzie (19) in the middle. One more: What happens to David Accam and Fafa Picault in their new system without wingers?

Portland Timbers

Most notable move this week: No transactions from the Portland Timbers this week.

Biggest move so far: A lot will be riding on Claude Dielna in defense to show the form that the Revs hoped for when they made him a DP in 2017.

Biggest question / hole: Can Jeremy Ebobisse lead the line for an entire season? Or what happens to his development if he doesn't get regular minutes? What are the options when Diego Chara and Diego Valeri, both set to turn 33 in 2019, need a breather?

Biggest question / hole: So, what position does Damir Kreilach play now? He was bought as a central midfielder, but played a false nine role to unexpected success last season. Lastly: Can a central midfield of Kreilach and Kyle Beckerman work if Luiz doesn't work out or gets hurt? Will Johnson live up to his DP billing?

Seattle Sounders

Most notable move this week: No movement in Seattle this week as the club continues preseason preparations.

Biggest move so far: With no non-draft additions outside of Jonathan Campbell, locking up Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan to long-term deals should be welcome news to fans, even if there are some questions as to the cap consternations it may cause in the future.

Biggest question / hole: How will the team replace Alonso's presence shielding the backline? How effective can Morris be on the wing?

Sporting KC

Most notable move this week: No movement from Sporting KC as they inch closer to their 2019 competitive debut in the CCL this week.

Biggest move so far: The Kelyn Rowe trade, which saw Rubio head to Colorado. Peter Vermes could hardly contain his excitement when he admitted he's long been an admirer of Rowe's, but now Krisztian Nemeth appears to be the club's first choice No. 9 ...

Biggest question / hole: ... which serves as the club's biggest question: striker. If SKC don't bring anyone in, as it's looking likely, they're forced to rely upon Nemeth, who has two goals in his last 30 MLS games (albeit just 11 starts, and let's not forget his 10-goal season for SKC in 2015) Still: not ideal. Also, Rowe spent SKC's first scrimmage with most of last year's starting XI in place of Roger Espinoza. One to watch heading towards opening day.

Rumors have it: SKC are reported to be interested in signing former US national team starlet Gedion Zelalem. Also, keep an eye on the rumor mill for a mystery striker that SKC may or may not be signing.

Toronto FC

Biggest move so far: Signing three-time All-Star and 2015 MLS Defender of the Year Laurent Ciman after an apocalyptic defensive injury crisis in 2018. Not only was he playing at a Best XI level before departing LAFC in August, he helps bring true depth to the Toronto backline, ditto with the signing of MLS veteran Nick DeLeon for the fullback position.

Biggest question / hole: How will the club replace the productivity of Sebastian Giovinco and Victor Vazquez, particularly their playmaking abilities? Is Jonathan Osorio ready to improve again? With Giovinco and Vazquez gone, what happens to Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore – both heading into the final year of their contracts? Will there be a focus on getting younger?

Rumors have it:All eyes on Alejandro Pozuelo. Since Sam Stejskal reported that TFC triggered Pozuelo's release clause, there's been a bit of a mess. Genk claim Pozuelo agreed to stay until the end of the season while the player says he was pressured into that agreement and will seek legal action if he's not allowed to leave immediately.

Biggest question / hole: Without Kamara, Alphonso Davies, Cristian Techera and Shea, the club will be without four of their top five goalscorers from last season. Waston was a constant on the backline for four-and-a-half seasons. How will the new recruitments fill their shoes? What formation will MDS play? (Still, as before, predicting a starting XI for the club is a fool's errand but this fool will continue to try anyway.)

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